Gmail Disables User Accounts Without Reason Or Warning

Gmail is the best email system in the world but many users experience great frustration after getting their accounts disabled for no apparent reason.

There are actually a couple of reasons, like logging in from multiple locations quickly, or sending mail to many people in a short period of time – basically anything that makes you look like a spammer.

Recently, we finally convinced our girlfriend to switch from earthlink crapola to Gmail. A day later, she was locked out, and very, very, very, pissed. We suspect that the change of address email she sent to 165 or so people might have triggered the action, but really, that seems like a small number, and how else does Google think people are supposed to “make the switch?”

If your account gets locked out like this, you can file a report here. Reinstatement are said to usually occur with 24 hours, but that’s small solace for people running their job, lives, or brain from their Gmail.

It’s probably no coincidence that the uptick lockout complaints corresponds to the time that Google opened up Gmail for registration without invitation.

Here’s a corny idea.. Use Evite or similar services to notify everyone of your new e-mail address. For people that have hundreds of contacts in their address book, this might be a good way to get the message out without appearing to look like a spammer to your e-mail provider or ISP.

@oncewascool: Chain letters are annoying, but they’re not commercial email, so please don’t report them as such.

@LatherRinseRepeat: Why not send notifications from your old email address? I don’t think it’s really appropriate to give someone’s email address to a third party like that. Even if you have decided that their TOS are acceptable to you, it’s not your decision to make for someone else. The last person who sent me one of those evite things is not allowed to have my email address anymore.

@mikesfree: I totally agree. It’s a free service – you get what you pay for. If Google decided tomorrow to drop gmail – they can (and piss people off). Running a business from a free email service is not smart – using it as a back up is smarter (i.e. have a copy of all emails sent to gmail, hotmail, yahoo, or whatever, so you’ve got a main business account and backups online).

They did it to me just yesterday. I was using a Perl script to back up a folder of my mail (since they don’t allow you to download it directly). I got an error saying my account had been frozen for up to 24 hours. It was back within an hour, but my mind is busy trying to figure out an alternative service, now that they can’t be trusted. :(

I’m not sure what everyone is complaining about. It seems to me that it is an issue that is not-too-common because it only happens when people do not-too-common things. 167 contacts? :o Does the average Joe have that many contacts in his gmail? Also, if it disturbs your business – guess what? You’re not PAYING for it! :) Anyway, feel good that they at least give you a link to reinstate. If it were Microsoft, you’d be SOL.

“We have been actively investigating a batch of accounts that were
accidentally disabled and are currently in the process of re-enabling
these accounts. This error occurred in an effort to target a large
network of spammers to keep them out of the Gmail system and keep your
inbox free from spam. We apologize for this inconvenience and
appreciate your patience as we re-enable these accounts as quickly as
possible.

Thanks ~
Gmail Guide”

So,the point is — they accidentally disabled/impaired/detained a bunch of people’s email accounts (hundreds, maybe thousands) while looking for terrorists…uh, I mean spammers Sound familiar?

I know for a fact that several accounts have since been restored. Still, it doesn’t exactly instill confidence.

I agree…”You get what you pay for.” is what my Dad always says. I’ll probably seek out a more reliable service, less power hungry service, myself.

I had a gmail account for over a year then lost it for no reason. Either somebody hacked it or they deleted it and somebody took the name. I did not send multi emails or use it from different locations. I complained to gmail for three months and heard nothing back. First of all it takes you forever to find the complaint area of the site. You keep getting questions and answers that lead to dead ends. Either they don’t know what they are doing or don’t care. I was using that account to apply for jobs so if it was hacked they have my info. I will never open another gmail account again.